The Government has said it will lower the age threshold for the adult national minimum wage from 22 to 21.

Currently employees aged between 18 and 21 receive a minimum wage of £4.60 per hour while staff aged 22 or older get a minimum wage of £5.52. The Government previously confirmed that, from 1 October 2008, the adult minimum wage would rise to £5.73. Ministers and union representatives at the Labour Party's National Policy Forum (NPF) voted to extend this adult rate to 21 year-olds

In May, the Government asked the Low Pay Commission to make recommendations on the minimum wage which are expected to be made available in the autumn.

The NPF has also voted to extend the right for staff with children aged up to 16 to request flexible working and for mothers to share paid parental leave with fathers.

The NPF is the policy-making arm of the Labour Party and plays an important part in deciding future manifestos.